Rare Birds in Dorset
82 species matching this filter.
Dorset's diverse landscapes—from the dramatic Jurassic Coast and sheltered harbours of Poole and Portland to ancient heathlands and rolling chalk downlands—attract an impressive array of rare bird species. With 82 species classified as rare in the county, patient observers may encounter elusive visitors such as the Great Grey Shrike, Arctic Jaeger, and Grasshopper Warbler, alongside scarce residents like the Barn Owl and Eurasian Woodcock. Whether scanning offshore waters for Black Guillemots and Kittiwakes or listening for the reeling song of a Garden Warbler in dense scrub, Dorset offers rewarding birding for those willing to seek out its rarer avian inhabitants.
Showing 47–69 of 82 species
Little Tern
Sternula albifronsLC
A rare breeding summer visitor from April to August, nesting on shingle beaches. Highly vulnerable to disturbance and habitat loss.
Apr–Aug
Long-tailed Duck
Clangula hyemalisVU
A rare winter visitor to Dorset's coastal waters, occasionally seen in Poole Harbour or off Portland during harsh weather.
Nov–Mar
Mandarin Duck
Aix galericulataLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to wooded lakes and rivers, mainly in winter and spring. This striking duck favours sheltered, tree-lined waterways.
Dec–May
Manx Shearwater
Puffinus puffinusLC
A rare breeding-season visitor seen offshore from Portland Bill during seawatches, mainly April to September as birds pass along the Channel.
Apr–Sep
Marsh Tit
Poecile palustrisLC
A scarce but faithful resident of Dorset's mature deciduous woodlands. Declining nationally, making the county's populations increasingly important.
Year-round
Merlin
Falco columbariusLC
A scarce winter visitor to Dorset's heathlands and open coast, arriving from autumn. This compact falcon dashes low in pursuit of small birds.
Sep–Mar
Nightingale
Luscinia megarhynchosLC
A rare passage visitor in May, occasionally heard singing in dense scrub. Dorset lies at the western fringe of its declining English breeding range.
May
Northern Goshawk
Accipiter gentilisLC
A rare visitor, occasionally seen near Dorset's larger forests in late winter and spring. This powerful, secretive raptor is expanding its UK range.
Dec–Apr
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Pomarine Jaeger
Stercorarius pomarinusLC
A rare spring passage migrant, occasionally spotted from Portland Bill and other headlands during May seawatches in favourable winds.
May
Purple Sandpiper
Calidris maritimaLC
A rare winter visitor to Dorset's rocky shores and breakwaters, favouring exposed Jurassic Coast ledges.
Nov–May
Red Crossbill
Loxia curvirostraLC
A rare resident of conifer plantations, with numbers varying greatly between years depending on irruptive movements.
Year-round
Red Knot
Calidris canutusNT
A rare visitor to Poole Harbour's mudflats, present in small numbers mainly outside the summer months.
Aug–May
Red-backed Shrike
Lanius collurioLC
A rare autumn passage migrant, most likely at Portland or other coastal headlands in September. Once bred in southern England.
Sep
Red-legged Partridge
Alectoris rufaNT
A rare resident of arable farmland and downland, largely sustained by game releases. Found year-round but thinly spread.
Year-round
Red-necked Grebe
Podiceps grisegenaLC
A rare winter visitor to Dorset's sheltered harbours and coastal waters, most likely seen between November and January in Poole Harbour or Portland.
Nov–Jan
Red-throated Loon
Gavia stellataLC
A rare winter visitor seen offshore or in Poole Harbour, typically between November and March. Often spotted from Portland Bill during seawatches.
Nov–Apr
Ring Ouzel
Turdus torquatusLC
A rare passage migrant seen briefly in April and October, mainly along the Purbeck coast and downland. The male's white breast crescent is distinctive.
Oct–Apr
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensisLC
A rare passage visitor, now virtually extinct in the UK following an eradication programme. Occasional August records persist.
Aug
Ruff
Philomachus pugnaxLC
A rare non-breeding visitor to Dorset's coastal lagoons and wet grasslands, mainly in autumn and winter.
Aug–Mar
Sanderling
Calidris albaLC
A rare but year-round visitor, scurrying along Dorset's sandy beaches at the tideline in small flocks.
Year-round
Short-eared Owl
Asio flammeusLC
A rare passage visitor to Dorset's coastal marshes and heathlands, mainly seen in autumn and early winter. Hunts low over open ground by day.
Oct–Jan
Snow Bunting
Plectrophenax nivalisLC
A rare passage visitor, occasionally turning up on Dorset's shingle beaches and coastal fields in November and January.
Nov–Jan
Spotted Redshank
Tringa erythropusLC
A rare but regular visitor to Poole Harbour and Brownsea lagoon, most reliably seen during autumn passage.
Jun–Apr